Penguins Day 2 2012 NHL Draft Picks

The second day of the 2012 NHL Draft has officially concluded, as the Penguins selected four forwards, two goalies and one defenseman in front of the hometown crowd at CONSOL Energy Center.

“This year’s draft, because there was very low consensus on who was going to go where, you tend to see real fracturing,” Penguins assistant director of amateur scouting Randy Sexton said. “Teams are all over the map. So we did believe that there would be a few guys that would slip through the cracks. (Matt) Murray, we thought, slipped through the cracks a little bit for us. (Oskar) Sundqvist slipped through cracks, which we’re delighted with because we got them in the spot we thought we would, but we weren’t sure they would be there. We’re pretty pleased with that.”

Here’s a look at each selection, coupled with a few words from some of the prospects in attendance and some perspective from Sexton.

Notes: The 6-foot, 171-pound Blueger appeared in 51 regular-season games this year with Shattuck-St. Mary’s, scoring 24 goals and 64 assists for a team-leading 88 points while leading his team to its second-straight USA Hockey National Under-18 title. A native of Riga, Latvia, Blueger was a member of Latvia’s entry at the 2012 World Junior Championship in Calgary and Edmonton, tallying three points (1G-2A) in six games. He also represented Latvia at the World Under-18 Championships.

In his own words: “At first it was tough. When I came over here, the level was a lot higher than what I was used to playing … My best assets are my hockey sense and vision, passing and creating scoring chances for myself or for my teammates. But at the same time, I’m a complete player and can play in all situations and defend too … It’s an unbelievable feeling (being drafted by Pittsburgh), just a little overwhelming. I’m just really happy right now. I can’t really describe the emotions.”

Sexton’s Take: "Blueger is a highly skilled player. He left Latvia very early to come over to Shattuck-St. Mary’s and has shown really steady progress. He fits what we look for. The upside on him, offensively, is very high.“

Notes: The 6-foot-3, 172-pound Sundqvist tallied 61 points (26G-35A) and racked up 132 penalty minutes in 43 games with Skelleftea.

In his own words: “I always liked Peter Forsberg. He’s a big man for me and I always looked up to him … I’m a big player, as you can see. I always work hard and give it all for my team … It was fantastic (being drafted by Pittsburgh). It couldn’t be any better. I talked to them in Sweden and here, I wasn’t sure but I had a clue they might pick me. I was so nervous in the morning. I couldn’t sleep. But it’s perfect.”

Sexton’s Take: "He’s big, he’s rangy, he skates and plays very hard. He’s got good hands close to the net and he can finish. He’s a Penguin."

Notes: Murray, 18, was ranked 18th among North American Goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting. The Thunder Bay, Ontario native appeared in 64 regular-season games for the Greyhounds, posting a 3.96 goals-against average and a .880 save percentage.

In his own words: "Having Marc-Andre Fleury here, I mean, he’s one of the best goalies in the league. He’s definitely one of the best guys to learn from. So I think it’s definitely a good spot for a goalie to be … (Being drafted) in front of the hometown fans it makes it that much more special. The Penguins have been one of my favorite teams. It’s just such an unbelievable experience. I don’t think it has quite settled in yet. It’s just absolutely unbelievable."

Sexton’s Take: "He has some things he has to work on but we like his size, we like his athleticism … We’re excited about him. He has a ways to go but he’s got lots of tools and lots of opportunities to get better."

Notes: A native of Woodbridge, Ontario, the 6-foot, 194-pound Marcantuoni appeared in 24 games this season with Kitchener, collecting nine goals and 14 points. In two seasons with the Rangers, he has accumulated 20 goals, 21 assists and 41 points in 66 regular-season contests.

In his own words: “The thought of playing on the same team as Crosby amazes me. I’m really happy to be here in Pittsburgh now … Ever since my (shoulder) surgery I’ve been training five days a week. I already put on 13 pounds of muscle … The fans were cheering and everything. It was a great feeling, like the butterfly feeling. Obviously I’m really happy right now and so glad to be in Pittsburgh. I already like the city.”

Sexton’s Take: "Speed, compete, his motor is always running. Good skill level. He’s fast and he plays hard. Not one of those real big guys. Sometimes he’s had a few injuries because he plays so hard, but he’s got speed to burn and a high intensity level.“

Note: Maguire (6-foot-2, 180 pounds), who will attend Boston University next season, played 31 games this year with Powell River of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), registering a 2.33 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. Maguire was selected to the BCHL Second All-Star Team and shared the BCHL Wally Forslund Memorial Trophy for the lowest combined team goals-against average (1.88) with fellow teammate Michael Garteig.

Sexton’s Take: "He’s not quite as big as Murray, not far along in his development, but the great thing about a college kid is you get the extra four years for him to develop."

Note: A defensive-minded D-man, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Seymour tallied eight assists in 47 regular-season games this year for Peterborough. Seymour, 19, has played four years in the OHL with Peterborough and Kingston, tallying 21 points (4G-17A) and 213 penalty minutes in 165 games.

Sexton’s Take: "Very good skater. Plays a hard, physical game … Clark Seymour is a denter.”

Notes: Zlobin, 19, recorded a team leading 40 goals and 76 points in 66 regular-season games this season for the Cataractes. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Moscow native starred during the postseason, tallying nine points (5G-4A) in six games during the 2012 Memorial Cup, including the clinching overtime goal for the Cataractes to help them earn their first Memorial Cup Championship. Zlobin’s junior rights were recently traded to the Val-d’Or Foreurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Sexton’s Take: “He’s a little short, stocky player. Has good speed, very good skills in tight … He’s one of those guys that has the offensive skill that could be a top-six player.”